Schiff says firing Mueller would echo Watergate

The special counsel investigating Russia's meddling in the 2016 election has expanded the inquiry to include examination of possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump, the Washington Post reported Wednesday afternoon.

And on Monday, a close friend of Trump's said the president is considering firing Mueller, a move that echoes Richard Nixon ordering the termination of the special prosecutor during the Watergate scandal. The obstruction of justice investigation started a few days after the firing of FBI Director James Comey last month, the Post reports, and officials are also looking into possible financial crimes committed by Trump associates.

A White House official stressed that Ruddy "speaks for himself", not the Trump administration. Allies of the president cast doubt on the idea that Trump would take such a step, and White House officials said Ruddy did not meet directly with the president while he was there.

In his interview Ruddy claimed Trump had interviewed Mueller for the position of Federal Bureau of Investigation director several days before Rosenstein appointed him special counsel. "Republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair".

Rosenstein says the attorney general would be the only one who could fire Mueller.

His comments came just days after explosive comments by ousted FBI director James Comey to the same committee, suggesting that Trump sought to interfere with the investigation. About one hour later, Ruddy appeared on PBS Newshour and during that interview, he told anchor Judy Woodruff that he believed Trump was already "considering" firing Mueller.

And deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said simply: "Chris speaks for himself". "He comes from a law firm that represents members of the Trump family".

The Post report cited anonymous sources who were briefed on requests made by investigators. ADVERTISEMENT "I think it's pretty straightforward", Mudd said Friday on CNN.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich spoke critically of special counsel Robert Mueller and his team, calling special counsels "very risky".

Mueller has served multiple presidents in both parties.

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff has publicly warned Mr Trump that Congress would find a way to reappoint Mr Mueller if he was sacked.

They say Mr Trump did not collude with Russian Federation and see the investigation as a politically-motivated sham that handicaps his ability to execute his agenda, according to one person who advises the White House on how to handle the probe.